Okay, be honest. At some point above, your eyes glazed over and a bit of your soul died. And you’re not alone. It’s a common phenomenon. The language of design and the language of business don’t often connect, yet each has their own important role in the overall success of the organization. As designers, we focus on designing with empathy for users…yet often don’t give credence or empathy to our colleagues on the business side.

How can we better ensure alignment with the overall goals of the enterprise? In her session on “Strategy Patois,” Adaptive Path’s Kate Rutter discusses the benefits of learning the language of strategy and integrating strategic decision-making tools and frameworks into the design process.

Why does it matter? According to Kate, these tools help streamline the design process, focus team decision-making and ensure that the most important priorities and opportunities get the time and effort they deserve so that delivered designs align with and forward the overall strategy.